Special Olympics Idaho Sued Over Alleged Rape

The mother and husband of a Special Olympics Idaho athlete are suing the organization, alleging it was negligent in failing to protect the athlete from being raped during a Special Olympics event in Boise in July 2011.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in 2nd District Court in Lewiston and seeks more than $10,000 in damages.

The lawsuit alleges the woman’s 27-year-old daughter, who has Asperger’s syndrome, was raped by a 26-year-old Lewiston man at a Special Olympics dance at a Boise high school. State officials say the alleged perpetrator was a registered sex offender until he turned 21.

Ada County officials didn’t file charges, saying they did not believe they could prove the case.

Special Olympics Idaho CEO Laurie La Follette says the organization hasn’t been served with the complaint, which also names Lewis-Clark Special Olympics.